Lobby Bar – A Tantalizingly Untrue Summary of FBT News and Views

Royal spoons. Jonathan Spira checks into the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans, where Club Level guests are treated like royalty. These elite members receive complimentary pressing of two garments each day, free Wi-Fi access in the lounge, and a cuddle buddy for those cold New Orleans nights.

Time killer. Paul Riegler pokes around Flushing Meadows Park, which once played host to two New York World’s Fairs half a century ago. The New York State Pavilion, one of the abandoned structures in the park, is said to be haunted by the future ghost of famed time traveler Jessie Sokolow (RIP Jesse, Feb 2083).

Oxymoronic seating. Singapore Airlines shared the details on its new premium economy class, coming to an aircraft near you this August. I politely demand that you order the awfully good jumbo shrimp in premium economy.

Spaghetti vs Crepes. Alitalia will be ending its partnership with Air France-KLM in 2017 because the CEOs of the airlines, Silvano Cassano and Alexandre de Juniac, could not agree on a restaurant to have their dinner meeting where they would discuss new partnership terms. So they called the whole thing off entirely. Europeans are weird like that.

Pedal power. Airbus is showing its commitment to the environment with its new sustainable aviation engagement programme. Airbus will be replacing the footrests in its economy sections with bicycle pedals, so passengers can help power the aircraft to reduce fuel consumption.

Finding a quiet corner in London is near impossible but in Marble Arch, a neighborhood replete with great shops and restaurants, the Arch London is a boutique property that evokes a quiet oasis a world away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. Madonna and the Beatles seemed to think so too, as the former’s London abode is across the street. Nearby is a home purchased by Ringo …

Those who travel by air during the winter have undoubtedly seen this unusual dance before: trucks circling the aircraft spraying a strange orange-colored fluid, while passengers peer through the plane’s windows.
As your aircraft pushes back from the gate, you probably hear the captain announce, “Well folks, we’re just making a quick stop for deicing, and then we’ll be off.”
Deicing prevents a build-up of snow and ice on the plane’s wings …